Day 18: Prayer Tree

No excuses really, just caught up in the whole Holiday season, and then there's the cancer thing.... We've been doing pretty well since I last posted but got a little lax with the making of magic, so things will be a little out of order here:

DAY 18: Make a Wish/Prayer Tree

In the vein of the Japanese (Shinto) prayer trees, we thought we'd make our own tree (out of fallen branches and an old vase). For some reason, the people who designed our apartment decided that in one corner of the living room they'd put a small sink with nondescript mirrors above it, and call it a 'wet bar.' It isn't at all practical - there's no room for alcohol or glassware & the sink is TINY. We've never been able to figure out a way to either use it or mask it - until now.  NOW, the tiny sink holds the vase that contains our 'tree,' and instead of avoiding that corner, we visit it daily.

Right, so the Wish Tree basically holds wishes or prayers that we've written out on small pieces of paper, then tied onto its branches.  Sometimes it's just names of people who might be having a hard time and need to be 'held in the light' (as the Quakers would say), sometimes it's little poetic thoughts or gratitudes, and sometimes it's a specific wish (like 'please rid Emily M. of cancer and keep her healthy for the rest of her long life.')

We found that this is a wonderful way to create ritual and make physical all those wishes and prayers we hold in our heads/hearts - it gives strength to those thoughts, and provides reminders (to us at least), that these people play an important role in our existence.

Day 17: Festive Lights!

Day 17: Add some festive lighting to any room.

Doesn't matter what time of year it is, add some festive (or as we like to call 'em, "happy") lights to your decorations.  Sort of like we did back in college, or for those who were really hip, high school (I was not really hip).

I remember stringing old (non-led) christmas lights around the perimeter of my room, and on nights when I need warm fuzzies, I'd turn off the overhead and plug in the christmas lights. They gave a soft glow to the room & made the surroundings feel, well, for lack of a better word, special.  Then (as trite as it might be) I'd play some Miles Davis or John Coltraine, and it was magic.

We have several strings of light hung in our house now, but my favorite is the colorful lights hung around our French doors (up all year round):

Day 16: Be Someone's Cheerleader

Monday: Be Someone's Cheerleader (even if they don't know it).

Over the past couple of years we've noticed a number of people who get out and walk in our (high trafficked) neighborhood, but there's this one guy - a big, burly (young) guy who we would see every day, with his headphones on - walking at a really good clip, up the road and back (he probably walked 2 or 3 miles).  I mean, this guy was not in shape, but every day he'd push passed our windows & I would think to myself 'Good Job Man! You're Awesome!'  I was just totally impressed with him - the fact that he was out there every day, clearly exercising, trying to make his life (& health) better was awe inspiring. (we still see him every once in awhile, looking leaner, I'm guessing he's changed his route).

Now, I never shouted out the window, "Good Job!" 'cuz that might be offensive or freak him out, but whenever I see ANYONE doing something good (like exercising), I always become their cheerleader, especially if it looks hard.  I always tell them Good Job, whether or not they hear it.  (Of course, we're usually in the car driving by). I figure the Universe hears it & maybe takes that energy where it needs to go.

Yesterday, still tired from chemo and an MRI scan, Tracy and I went for a walk.  Now the thing you need to know about chemo-fatigue is that it takes EVERYthing out of you.  Seemingly simple tasks (like walking to the kitchen and back) can completely do you in. So yesterday, when I went for a walk, I was only able to go a little way before my legs got all wobbly and we had to turn around.  At that moment, Tracy turned to me and said, "You didn't see them, and you can't hear them, but a car full of people just drove by shouting 'Good Job!'" (I nearly cried).

Day 15: Enjoy the Sunset

Saturday: Enjoy the Sunset.

This weekend, my friend Glenn Blakeslee hosted a Day of Sunsets over on Facebook. The purpose was to gather and appreciate that day's sunset from all over the globe. (Same sun, same globe, millions of view points - how extraordinary!)

Capetown, South Africa

Kunsan AB, South Korea

Muscat, Oman

Mohave Desert

Day 14: Celebrate Something, Anything

Thursday: Have a Celebration

Today, I had something to celebrate. It was my final Chemo treatment, so we took ourselves out for a nice Linner (Lunch/Dinner).  But growing up, whenever my family needed to have a celebration (either to erase a bad day, or if we just needed something fun), we'd walk up to the corner grocery store and get a cake and some candles and declare it someone's UNbirthday. These usually popped up several times a year and were always a surprise. And they always ended in laughter, sighs (& sugar highs).

You can make it as elaborate, eclectic, or simple as you like. Pull out the china and have a Mad Hatter's tea party, with slanty, imperfect yet yummy homemade cakes; OR go to the bakery/grocery store and pick up one of their creations (if they have a cake wreck, all the better). Invite friends, make it a family ordeal, or just a party for one - whatever you need. And it doesn't have to be something big - it can just be a celebration of the fact that you made it through the day (Good Job!).

So, a very merry unbirthday... to you, yes you.

Day 13: Write a Letter

Wednesday: Make someone's  day, send a card or write a letter (& mail it).

One of the things I'm realizing as I'm going through this ordeal of cancer treatment is that it is REALLY nice when I go to the mailbox and pull out good mail (not just bills).

What I also realized was that I like to write letters. I have always had the intention of being a letter writer. So much so that I have drawers and drawers full of cute cards that I've picked up over the years, but somehow, even if I've managed to write a letter, more often than not it doesn't get sent (wrong mailing address, no stamps, gets hidden under a stack of other stuff, yadda' yadda' yadda') - we've all been there, right?

Well, this week, I opted to step away from the computer (especially Facebook), and write a couple of cards a day. I start out by addressing the envelopes and getting stamps on them; write even the briefest of notes (Thinking about you). Then make an intention to walk to the mailbox each day with letters in hand. (So far, so good).

We just don't spend the time these days to reach out like we used to.  Sites like Facebook make it easy to catch up, but the thought that goes into a hand written note is just so nice, and it has the ability to make someone's day.

Day 12: Listen to the Rain

Tuesday: Listening to the rain.

I think it was W.C. Fields who, while going through withdrawal for alcohol, could not fall asleep without the sound of rain on the roof.  Of course, living in L.A., a city where it never rains, made it difficult. It got to the point where someone would have to stand outside his house, with a hose aimed at the roof, to mimic the sounds of rain in order for him to fall asleep. (btw, how nice was that person to ease his pain by standing outside & spraying the roof with water? Seriously, humanity can be pretty great). These days, there's a whole industry built around mimicking soothing sounds (I've no doubt that there's an app for that).

Regardless, nothing compares to the actual sound of rain. The little plicks and plops, as drops hit tree leaves, structures, or ground, do something to the nervous system. Somehow I breathe easier and my stress levels abate.  So last night, as I was falling asleep, I was pleased to hear rain outside my window, and equally lovely was waking up to it.

Listen to the rain: